decadence
UK: ˈdekədəns | US: ˈdekədəns
n. moral or cultural decline, especially after a peak of achievement
n. excessive indulgence in pleasure or luxury
decadence = de<down> + cad<fall> + ence<noun suffix>
- de (Latin prefix): "down" or "away," indicating decline or reversal.
- cad (from Latin cadere): "to fall," reflecting deterioration or collapse.
- ence (noun-forming suffix): denotes a state or quality.
Etymology Origin:
Derived from Latin decadentia ("a falling away"), the word entered English via French décadence in the 16th century. It originally described the decline of empires (e.g., Rome) and later evolved to critique cultural/moral decay, often tied to excessive luxury. The morphemes logically combine to depict a "downward fall" in standards.
The novel critiques the decadence of aristocratic society before the revolution.
Critics blamed the empire’s collapse on moral decadence.
His lifestyle of endless parties symbolized sheer decadence.
The art movement embraced decadence as a reaction to rigid traditions.
Economic growth masked the underlying decadence of the political system.